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The Effects of CBD on Fear, Anxiety, and a Healthy Stress Response

Presented by PlusCBD Oil

February 29, 2016

This article is sponsored by PlusCBD Oil, a product line from CV Sciences (formerly CannaVest). CV Sciences is one of the leading suppliers and manufacturers of agricultural hemp-derived CBD bulk and finished products.

Phytocannabinoids like cannabidiol (CBD) are a subclass of cannabinoids derived from plants, typically hemp. In the 1800s, hemp plants were widely cultivated as a fiber source and food in the form of seed oil. Even George Washington grew hemp on his farm in Mount Vernon. Today, worldwide uses of hemp encompass hundreds of consumer products, including ropes, fabrics, paper, plastics and construction materials, and even serve as a source of protein. These same hemp plants are also the major source of commercial CBD extracts, which today are being used to attenuate fear and anxiety and promote a healthy stress response.

How Cannabinoid Receptors Control Stress Response

Cannabinoid receptors (CB1, CB2, TRPV1, GP55 and others) and the biochemical machinery necessary to synthesize and generate cannabinoids are present within areas of the brain known to control emotional behavior, mood, sleep, stress, irritability, fear and even the sensation of “craving.” These structures include the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, nucleus accumbens, and periaqueductal gray (PAG) of the midbrain. Several lines of evidence in mice and other animals have clearly demonstrated that activation of cannabinoid receptors within the brain lowers heart rate and blood pressure responses to stress and reduces panic and anxiety behavior. Put simply, hemp-derived CBD administration appears to attenuate the well-known “fight or flight” phenomenon to physical and mental stress. Other studies using similar models in animals have shown that CBD administration decreases fear-avoidant and conditioned responses to pain or punishment.

In humans, one of the earliest studies to document the beneficial effects of CBD on anxiety was published in 1982 (1). Using a double-blind, cross-over design where each subject served as their own control, eight healthy volunteers were given either 0.5 mg/kg tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 1 mg/kg CBD, a mixture containing 0.5 mg/kg THC and 1 mg/kg CBD, or diazepam (Valium) as a control. The results showed that CBD blocked the anxiety promoted by THC, indicating antagonism between the two cannabinoids.

In another study using a simulated public speaking test to induce stress, a 300-milligram dose of CBD reduced symptoms of self-rated anxiety (2). Follow-up studies have confirmed and extended these results by reporting significant decreases in cognitive impairment and speech performance in subjects submitted to anxiety induced by several different procedures.

Mapping CBD’s Neurological Effects

Other more elegant studies have used single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine changes in regional blood flow and neural correlates of brain activity in response to CBD administration (3,4). Results from these studies, using doses of between 400 and 600 milligrams of CBD, indicate increases in brain activity in the left parahippocampal gyrus and decreases in the left amygdala-hippocampus complex, along with attenuated responses during the recognition of fearful facial expressions in the amygdala and the anterior cingulate. Collectively, these patterns of SPECT and fMRI results are consistent with effects on alleviating anxiety, irritability, fear and stress responses from hemp-derived CBD administration.

Interestingly, a case report was published by Shannon S et al. in the journal Integrative Medicine, on hemp-derived CBD oil for decreasing the habitual use of marijuana (5). This case describes the gradual decrease in anxiety (as measured by HAM-A: Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale) and feelings of stress and irritability from the marijuana non-use, while maintaining normal sleep quality. According to the authors, the use of hemp-derived CBD oil helped in transitioning this patient away from habitual marijuana use while avoiding negative stress responses. The neuronal circuits within the brain that control many of these behaviors and emotions appear to be positively modulated by CBD.

Given the ongoing, emerging human clinical data supporting the use of a hemp-derived CBD-rich extracts for modulating fear, anxiety and a healthy stress response, it looks like good old George Washington was a bona fide hemp pioneer.

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kiki willow

That’s great science, but CBD has the exact opposite effect on me. One small dose leaves me sedated. Two and I’m crawling out of my skin with anxiety. I wish it worked as well for me as people report, but I can’t do it, and I wish there were some research on adverse reactions to CBD.

Sandra

Its not just taking CBD and all is well, your anxiety i bet is also hormones, go to a bio identical dr, they will check your progesterone, testosterone , estrogen, and adrenal’s. This is from my personal experience, once you get those balanced your anxiety will diminish, then you can use the CBD cause your adrenal will need help, cause stress is a every day thing, so it will help with the anxiety! TRUST ME!!

A lot of people are there for anxiety, so if you end up being allergic or something, you could probably get some ideas of where to turn to next. Good luck!

Fred Anderson

This Gave me my Life back , I am a artist and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and I haven’t been able to paint for 6-7 months . Painting is a huge part of my recovery from hard drugs and to be honest I was scared to try this but with the THC removed I am able to paint and in other areas my life has changed like no depression , no feelings of being over whelmed…. I am a proud member of NA and will share this with people I knowwho are fighting tremors or Parkinson’s

michelle

Fred, thank you for your review. I am also a member of NA and AA and was worried about taking this product. I still worry that I like it so much and have often taken too much to were I was sedated but very relaxed and less irritable. It is good to know that other recovering addicts benefit from this product. I’d say from the high sedation for me I still worry. Please keep me updated on your continued use of cbd.

I need to find a good balance of CBD and THC became CBD alone in even the smallest amount gives me anxiety! I’d love a balance that would help my epilepsy and I can still go to work.

peterhurt035@gmail.com

We just got some medical marijuana and Cbd/Thc oil from Dr peter hurt via Phone number +18045370917

Alisha James

This sounds interesting. Is it legal to purchase? Where would you go to find out?

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James White

How to sensibly buy LEGAL cbd oil online? Because I got a letter saying customs has confiscated my package two times already and I’m pissed.

Jackie Brown

Where are you located?

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